Burundi
Promises to Burundian women not lived up to

afrol.com, 27 October - In August, all parties to the Burundian conflict agreed to include gender equality recommendations in the peace agreement and in the new Burundian state emerging. Yesterday, however, Marie-Therese Keita-Bocoum, the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Burundi, in her report more than indicated that these promises were not lived up to.

Mrs. Keita-Bocoum yesterday introduced her report on the human rights situation in Burundi, and emphasized particularly on women and poverty issues. She said poverty had increased in the country despite the Government's best efforts and the dropping of the embargo against it. 

There was a poor representation of women at decision-making levels, Mrs. Keita-Bocoum stated. The main obstacles to this were tradition and lack of education. Further, a measure on succession marriages was meeting with opposition, particularly from women. She said action must be taken to accelerate the advancement of women, particularly with regard to violence against them. Abductions of women is still reported, she said.

Two months ago, all 19 negotiating parties agreed to include gender equality recommendations in the Arusha Peace and Reconciliation Agreement for Burundi. "Equality for women in Burundi is closer to becoming a reality," UN's women agency (UNIFEM) then reported. Women were central in starting the peace process in Burundi, and an all-party women's conference also articulated proposals of special interest to this half of the population - which were accepted by "the warring men".

Some of the key recommendations made by this women's conference included: the establishment of mechanisms to punish war crimes such as rape and sexual violence; guarantees for women's rights to property, land and inheritance; measures to ensure women's security and safe return; and guarantees that girls have the same rights as boys to all levels of education. The key proposal on which the male negotiators could not reach agreement, but recognized its importance, was the proposed 30% representation of women in all decision-making during and after the transition.

"Equality legislatively ensured"
In respons to Keita-Bocoum, the representative of Burundi expressed that the equality of men and women was legislatively ensured in Burundi, but it took time to change attitudes. War was the main reason for rights violations.

Keita-Bocoum's reports however shows that the hearing of women's voices was not likely to be institutionalized, as the representation of women in decision-making remained low. With the failure to include women in decision-making, even after the promises made in August, the human right situation of women has poor conditions for improvement. 

It recently has been documented that women comprise some 80 per cent of internally displaced persons and refugees when there is war. Women and girls in war situations are also victims of rape, domestic violence, sexual exploitation, trafficking, sexual humiliation and mutilation. However, their voices still are seldom heard when "the important men" talk peace and war.

Human rights situation
On the general human rights situation in Burundi, Mrs. Keita-Bocoum also noted significant improvements. Some sectors were improving thanks to efforts by the Government, the international community and civil society, she stated. The new code of criminal procedure had brought about a bettering of conditions in such areas as freedom of speech. Torture, however, was still reported. Dismantling of the disputed "regroupment" camps had begun - but people were now returning to the camps for security. However, the overall situation had deteriorated since August, with the forces of law and order appearing guilty of atrocities such as summary executions. 

The representative of Burundi Human maintained that "rights violations should be condemned, regardless of who committed such actions. Burundi was trying to take steps against those who were killing civilians. The Rapporteur should be careful about ascribing blame when it could not be known who had done the killing." 

Source: Based on different UN sources

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